Stupid Questions? Maybe.

[unky_gumbi]

I was just wondering what make up these weldable steels we can pick up at the hardware store are. I know it isn't something to make a knife from, I am just curious thats all. I picked some up today to make the hinges, legs, and latch for my forge from, but it doesn't say what it is other than weldable steel.

I hope to get back on track with my forge build and be able to fire it up before the end of January, now that the massive vet bills are taken care of. One of the first things I want to make is a couple sets of tongs. I downloaded the tong making tutorial from Anvilfire, or I think that is where I got it, and even though it looks straight forward enough should I be looking at something a little simpler as a first project? I know I will need tangs and I have been seeing them online for a fair price, but I think it would be more satisfactory to make my own set, and I don't need tongs to make a set according to the tutorial I have sitting in front of me.

 

[mgysgthath]

I don't know about the welding steel, but my dad and I forged my first set of tongs, and while they aren't as nice as the "storebought" ones I got for blade stock, I still use them a lot and learned a lot from them.

 

[Dan Pierson]

AFAIK the hardware store steels are generic mild steel. Typically 1018 if cold rolled and A36 if hot rolled.